BELLATOR SIGNS CHRIS “THE ASSASSIN” LOZANO

Bellator Fighting Championships today announced the signing of undefeated MMA prospect Chris “The Assassin” Lozano to its already impressive roster.

Sporting an impressive undefeated record of 5-0,  Lozano has dominated all of his fights to date, beating all five opponents he has faced by TKO or KO, with four of the five stoppages coming in the very first round.  In his most recent outing, Lozano took out well rounded Pride/UFC veteran Jason Dent via fourth round TKO in an extremely impressive showing.

Growing up in Cleveland, Lozano struggled to find positive sports programs before eventually turning to MMA for his competitive release. Currently training out Strong Style Gym in Ohio, Lozano began boxing and Tae Kwon Do when he was a child.  In middle school, Lozano turned to wrestling where he quickly made the Ohio National team for his age group and weight class before ultimately setting his sites on mixed martial arts.

“Chris Lozano brings proven knockout power to the welterweight division.” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “He is a big welterweight that has tremendous potential to accomplish great things in Bellator at 170 lbs.”

Lozano is admittedly anxious to show what he is capable of on the biggest platform of his fast-rising career.

“Fighting for an organization like Bellator Fighting Championship is a dream come true,” said Lozano. “To finally get a chance to compete amongst the best in the world is something I have spent my entire life focusing on and dreaming of.”

ROGER HUERTA VS. EDDIE ALVAREZ AT BELLATOR 33

Bellator Fighting Championships officially announced today that the promotion will make its debut in Pennsylvania when Philadelphia native and Bellator Lightweight World Champion Eddie Alvarez (20-2) squares off against former UFC Star  Roger “El Matador” Huerta (24-4-1) in one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year.

“Bellator 33: Alvarez vs. Huerta” is set to take place from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 21st.

For explosive Bellator World Champion Eddie Alvarez, momentum is on his side, as he enters the Superfight with an impressive five-fight win streak on the line where the longtime knockout artist has finished all of his most recent victims by submission. In his most recent trip to the cage, Alvarez put rugged UFC veteran Josh “The Dentist” Neer to sleep with a nasty rear-naked choke during Bellator 17 in Boston on May 6th of this year.

Alvarez is admittedly excited about the opportunity to compete in front of his hometown fans in Philly for the first time in the top lightweight’s career that currently spans 22 professional fights, from Japan to Boston, against many of the toughest 155 lb fighters in the business.

“Roger Huerta, Philadelphia, October 21st… this is a dream fight for me,” said Alvarez. “I’ve never even lost a fight here in the United States, so I’m definitely not going to start in my hometown of Philadelphia with all of my people there. That’s not going to happen. Not a chance.

“I’m not going to be happy unless I completely control and dominate Roger in this fight. It’s important for me to go in there and dominate this fight and prove that I’m one of the best lightweights in the world.”

In the case of Roger Huerta, the electrifying 27 year old lightweight is eager to return to the cage after suffering a defeat in his previous outing when Pat Curran shocked the MMA world and defeated “El Matador” by unanimous decision in the semifinal lightweight tournament at Bellator 17. As the first MMA fighter ever to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Eddie Alvarez will be the toughest fights that Huerta has encountered is his MMA career.

Although fighting in Alvarez’ backyard of Philadelphia, Huerta expects for the advantage to ultimately lie in his favor, stating, “The cheers or jeers won’t affect me one way or the other. The pressure is on him fighting in his hometown. He’s going to bring the best out of me. The best. It’s going to be scary.

“This is a fight that I’ve always wanted. It’s a dream come true. It’s going to be a grueling fight for the both of us. It’s going to be a potential fight of the year. I’m going in there expecting a war, and I’m going in there trying to finish Eddie.”

Intending to send a direct message to his critics and fans alike in his upcoming  performance against Huerta, Alvarez would be the first to admit that he’s had the former Sports Illustrated cover athlete in his sites since the moment Huerta signed his contract with Bellator.

“I don’t care where you fought in the past, but if you come to my promotion and you have a big name and you’re obviously marketable, and the promotion signs you, I’m going to have an issue with that,” said Alvarez. “If I don’t feel threatened by that, then I’m an idiot. I feel threatened by someone like Roger trying to move into my house and I’m going to do everything I can to protect what’s mine and get him out of there. I want to keep all eyes on me. I’m going to go out there and do my job and get him out of there.”

Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney was admittedly excited to bring this incredible Superfight to Philadelphia, stating, “The Alvarez-Huerta fight should be one of the most  electrifying bouts in the history of Bellator Fighting Championships, and to be able to host it in one of the greatest fights towns on earth, Philadelphia is spectacular. . I’ve said it before, I believe Eddie Alvarez is the best Lightweight Mixed Martial Artist in the world today and for Roger to have the courage to face him speaks volumes about his confidence and character.  The fans are really in for a treat with not only a great fight card, but also a fantastic host venue in The Liacouras Center.”

The Liacouras Center is located on the campus of Temple University, in the heart of Philadelphia, and is home to the Temple Owl’s Basketball and Volleyball, as well as Professional Indoor Soccer. The Liacouras Center was opened in 1997, and has a capacity of just over 10,000.

Tickets for “Bellator 33: Alvarez vs. Huerta” are priced at $150, $85, $65, $45, and $25, and go on sale Monday, August 30^th at www.ComcastTix.com

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

BELLATOR 25 RESULTS

Where were you, Chicago? Another disappointing turnout for a major MMA event in the Windy City. But the event was still entertaining. The local fights injected a ton of excitement into the card, as all 4 of the main card bouts went to decision. To the results:

BELLATOR ADDS ZACH MAKOVSKY TO TOURNEY

Bellator Fighting Championships today announced the official addition of Zach Makovsky to the Season 3 Bantamweight World Championship Tournament.  Makovsky enters the tournament with an impressive 9-2 record, while currently riding a three fight win-streak.  The Philadelphia-based fighter last competed at Bellator 21 in June 2010 against Eric Luke where he secured  a fight-ending Kimura with just 30 seconds left in the second round.

Makovsky is the seventh confirmed participant in the bantamweight tournament along with dynamic striker Bryan Goldsby, the explosive Jose Vega, up-and-coming Danny Tims, Las Vegas-based Cobra-Kai jiu-jitsu instructor Ulysses Gomez, fast-rising Wyoming native Nik Mamalis and Minnesota-based powerhouse Travis “The Hurricane” Reddinger.

“Zack Makovsky trains with our Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez and like Eddie has great power and dangerous submission skills. His ability to apply non-stop pressure and grind out his opponents makes him a very serious threat to anyone in this talent-stacked tournament,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

Currently training out of Philadelphia, Makovsky began his career in the regional New Jersey MMA circuit after eventually joining the now defunct EliteXC. Of his nine career victories, Makovsky has stopped five of his opponents decisively by submission.

“I’m really excited to be fighting in this tournament, as a fighter you want to be facing top competition and taking the best fights you can,” said Makovsky.  “I feel like Bellator is the place to do it and I’m really looking forward to getting back in there.”

JAM-PACKED WEEK OF MMA IN CHICAGO

The Chicagoland area will get treated to plenty of MMA this week. Here’s a rundown of the events.

Bellator 25, Thursday, Chicago Theatre

Bellator returns to Chicago for Bellator 25. The exciting Zoila Frausto (7-1) will battle the undefeated, #6-ranked flyweight Jessica Pene (7-0). Damian “The Polish Pitbull” Grabowski (12-0) will take on Scott Barrett in a battle of heavyweights. Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament runner-up and local favorite Dan Hornbuckle will face off against UFC veteran “Bad” Brad Blackburn. Undefeated Division I NCAA Wrestling Champion Cole Konrad takes on submission specialist Rogent Lloret in another heavyweight tourney showdown. “Mr. International” Shonie Carter will take on Torrance Taylor, a one time Strikeforce fighter. Brian Gassaway will battle Kevin Knabjian in a match of two local fighters. Mark Miller was supposed to fight on the card, but he has been forced to withdraw due to injury. Keoki Cypriano will face Eric Kriegermeier in the promotion’s third show in the Windy City. Visit Bellator.com for ticket info.

G2 Fight Night Live, Saturday, Tinley Park Convention Center

The Gilbert Grappling produced event is back with another card full of promising amateur fights. Here’s a great fight video from the last G2 featuring Jon Reed vs. Kenny Jordan.

For more information contact 630.479.6304 or send an e-mail to g2fightnight@live.com.

American Predator FC, Saturday, Lithuanian World Center

The second event produced by APFC will once again be held in Lemont. You can buy tickets and check out the full fight card at the American Predator FC website.

SEVERAL CHICAGOANS ADDED TO BELLATOR 25 LINEUP

Bellator 25, scheduled for August 19 at the Chicago Theatre, is shaping up to be a showcase of local Chicago area talent.  Three area fighters will reportedly take part on a fightcard already claiming the likes of two welterweights who’ve earned their stripes in area fight promotions.

Read more

VIDEO: BELLATOR’S TOP FINISHES

Bellator puts out a video of the Top Ten finishes from its first two seasons.  The third season will begin on Thursday August 14 at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL.

MR. INTERNATIONAL FIGHTING AT BELLATOR 25 IN CHICAGO

Chicago’s own Shonie Carter will reportedly be part of the fightcard when Bellator returns for action later this summer at The Chicago Theatre.

Read more

BELLATOR RETURNS TO CHICAGO THEATRE

Chicago/LA based Bellator Fighting Championships is gearing of for its third season of Mixed Martial Arts Action.

Bellator 25 will mark the Chicago landmark’s second-ever mixed martial arts event — the first being Bellator 14 which took place on April 15, 2010.  The Bellator 25 card will feature two quarterfinal fights in both the Season 3 Heavyweight and Women’s World Championship tournaments.

Damian “The Polish Pitbull” Grabowski will make his U.S. debut in a quarterfinal heavyweight world championship tournament fight against knock-out artist Scott Barrett.

Grabowski, who was considered one of the top heavyweight free agents in the world before signing with Bellator, boasts a perfect 13-0 pro record. The Polish Pitbull has not only finished each of his opponents by TKO or submission, but not one of his opponents has yet to see the third round of a fight. His spectacular tenacity was on full display in April 2009, when he competed in a one-night, 16-man heavyweight tournament in an Austrian promotion that featured no-time-limit bouts. Grabowski dismantled each of his four opponents, winning the tournament with his longest fight lasting only 3:48 into the second frame. In his most recent fight last month Grabowski TKO’d the highly regarded heavyweight Michal Kita in the first round.

Barrett, who owns a four-fight win streak coming into the tournament, fought earlier this year at Bellator 19 where he knocked out formerly undefeated Ty Lee just 2:25 into Round 1.

Bellator 25 will also include an opening-round fight in Bellator’s World Championship Women’s Tournament featuring Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto and the world’s No. 6-ranked flyweight, undefeated Jessica Pene.

Frausto was added to the tournament after she shocked the MMA world recently at Bellator 23 with her stunning KO of the world’s top-ranked and heavily favored Rosi Sexton.  Sexton was subsequently forced out of the tournament due to a 60-day medical suspension from the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority. Pene debuted for Bellator in May 2009 with a first round TKO against Tammie Schneider at Bellator 5.  Her unblemished record also features a submission victory over fellow tournament participant and No. 8 world ranked 115 pounder, Angela Magana.

In other action, Aisling Daly, the best female mixed martial artist in Ireland and the world’s No. 3-ranked 125 lbs. woman, will drop down to 115 lbs. to face 13-5 submission ace and No. 3-ranked flyweight Lisa Ward in the opening round of the World Championship Women’s Tournament.  The 22-year-old Daly will make her U.S. MMA debut backed by a pristine 9-0 record, while Ward enters the fight with one win already coming under the Bellator banner.  Just two weeks ago at Bellator 22, she dismantled Stephanie Frausto with a slick rear naked choke 2:01 into the first round.

The Bellator Season 3 Heavyweight and Women’s World Championship tournaments begin Aug. 12 and will once again be televised LIVE in primetime every Thursday night on FOX Sports Net and during special weekend highlight shows on NBC, Telemundo and the cable network mun2.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

Tickets are priced at $100, $75, $50, and $35, and go on sale at Ticketmaster.com beginning this Saturday, July 10^th, at noon.

BELLATOR FEATHERWEIGHT FINAL COULD MIRROR WELTERWEIGHT FINAL

Bellator had an impressive offseason signing some of MMA’s most coveted free agents as well as little known up-and-comers ready to break out on a bigger stage.  Many of those acquisitions have panned out, especially in the middleweight and welterweight tournaments.  The finals of both divisions pretty much featured the matchups many thought would happen when the initial pairings were announced.  Last week Olympic wrestler Ben Askren grounded and pounded his way past Total Fight Challenge & Sengoku veteran Dan Hornbuckle.  On Thursday another Olympic caliber wrestler, Joe Warren, takes on undefeated Patricio “Pitbull” Freire.

Read more

Next Page »